There is something about music at Christmas that fills my whole being with peace and joy. I don't mean the "cheesy" music of "Jingle bell rock" or "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus". Unfortunately public places are much more likely to have that kind of music on and it doesn't lead me to that place of peace and joy, but rather to want to escape!
Still, there is lots of great music...old carols, beautiful orchestras and choirs, fantastic instrumental music to celebrate the season. Over the years I've collected hundreds of great classical pieces of music - to the point that I can press play on my IPod and it will play for days on end without repeating.
I put on this music and it operates in the background. A lot of the time I don't even know what is playing, but then once in a while I'll catch the sound out of the air and for that brief moment of time I'm caught back up in the message.
I love this verse from the prophet Zephaniah:
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
While I love the music around me, here's another music that is amazing to me. I got to hold my brand new Granddaughter yesterday. I held on to this tiny baby and smiled, and spoke to her, and then sang to her. Not loud songs, but the gentle whispers of one who madly loves this child.
Do you think maybe that God's singing over us is this gentle whisper of one who madly loves?
We sing and make music because it comes from within...something is happening on the inside of us that needs to come out into the air and be declared:
Singing is a part of our faith and trust in God...
Psalm 5:11 (NIV)
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Singing is a declaration of who God is...
Psalm 68:4 (NIV)
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds-- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him.
Singing is not circumstantial, but it is hopeful when all is not well...
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Singing is Mary when told she is to have a child...
Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Singing is not just on earth...it even comes from heaven.
Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
AND then there is Zephaniah 3:17...and God sings. Music captivates, declares, helps us connect our faith with the reality and truth we know. When that moment comes today and you catch the sound of that carol, that hymn, that choir...stop and think about the mystery and majesty that is ours because Our God sings to us.
Still, there is lots of great music...old carols, beautiful orchestras and choirs, fantastic instrumental music to celebrate the season. Over the years I've collected hundreds of great classical pieces of music - to the point that I can press play on my IPod and it will play for days on end without repeating.
I put on this music and it operates in the background. A lot of the time I don't even know what is playing, but then once in a while I'll catch the sound out of the air and for that brief moment of time I'm caught back up in the message.
I love this verse from the prophet Zephaniah:
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
While I love the music around me, here's another music that is amazing to me. I got to hold my brand new Granddaughter yesterday. I held on to this tiny baby and smiled, and spoke to her, and then sang to her. Not loud songs, but the gentle whispers of one who madly loves this child.
Do you think maybe that God's singing over us is this gentle whisper of one who madly loves?
We sing and make music because it comes from within...something is happening on the inside of us that needs to come out into the air and be declared:
Singing is a part of our faith and trust in God...
Psalm 5:11 (NIV)
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Singing is a declaration of who God is...
Psalm 68:4 (NIV)
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds-- his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him.
Singing is not circumstantial, but it is hopeful when all is not well...
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Singing is Mary when told she is to have a child...
Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)
46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Singing is not just on earth...it even comes from heaven.
Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
AND then there is Zephaniah 3:17...and God sings. Music captivates, declares, helps us connect our faith with the reality and truth we know. When that moment comes today and you catch the sound of that carol, that hymn, that choir...stop and think about the mystery and majesty that is ours because Our God sings to us.
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